gastrins and Jaundice

The aim of this study was to determine the ability of G17DT to generate anti-gastrin antibodies in jaundiced patients with biliary obstruction due to advanced pancreatic cancer.. G17DT was administered to 41 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma by intramuscular (i.m.) injection at a dose of 250mcg at weeks 0, 1 and 3 of the study.. Thirty-five of 41 patients participating in the study were categorized as responders in terms of their gastrin-17 antibody response. There was no correlation between the maximum G17 antibody response and the bilirubin level at either week 0 or week 12. The median survival of patients from the time of the first injection of G17DT was 204 days with 25% of patients surviving for or=305 days.. This study shows that G17DT administered to jaundiced patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is immunogenic and well tolerated.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibody Formation; Bilirubin; Cancer Vaccines; Cholestasis; Disease Progression; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Immunization; Injections, Intramuscular; Jaundice; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom

During the past 9 years, we have treated 23 patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage following corrective surgery for biliary atresia. Ulcers or erosions of the stomach, duodenum or intestinal wall were observed endoscopically in 20 cases. In other 3 cases, bleeding point was not determined endoscopically, but massive bleeding was recognized frequently. Ten patients bled within 6 months of surgery, and the incidence of bleeding was also seen even after the age of 10 years. A history of cholangitis, the presence of jaundice and the use of cholagogues were related to the postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding. Serum concentrations of gastrin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide showed high values after surgery in almost half the biliary atresia patients examined, however, no clear relationship between the concentration of these factors and gastrointestinal hemorrhage was established.

Topics: Biliary Atresia; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Infant; Jaundice; Male; Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage; Postoperative Complications